Category: News + Opportunities
Small Press Network Book of the Year Award 2023: Winner Announcement
The Small Press Network (SPN) is excited to announce the winner of the 2023 Small Press Network Book of the Year Award (BOTY): Against Disappearance: Essays on Memory, an anthology by Liminal and published by Pantera Press. The award was presented at the Wheeler Centre as part of its Next Big Thing series by Meanjin […]
Independent bookshops sponsor the 2023 Book of the Year (BOTY) Award
The Small Press Network’s Book of the Year (BOTY) Award is an annual award that highlights authorial and publishing excellence by small and independent publishers. Open to any book released by an SPN member during the previous calendar year, the BOTY Award provides significant recognition and promotional opportunities to both publisher and author. A huge […]
SPN supports APA and ASA stances on AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is obviously a big topic on all our minds at the moment. As the technology develops, we expect that AI will become a useful – perhaps essential – tool for publishing workflows. But when it comes to author, illustrator and designer copyright and IP protection, SPN is in full agreement with recent […]
SPN endorses IpEd guide to working with freelance editors
SPN is pleased to endorse and recommend a new set of guidelines published by the Institute of Professional Editors (IpEd) on best practices for publishers when working with freelance editors. The guide sets out some basic principles, both professional and ethical, so both parties can approach the project with a clear understanding of what is […]
Meet Events & Communication Manager Debbie Lee
In a publishing career spanning over 30 years, Debbie has worked in trade sales, and as a commissioning editor and publishing manager in the vocational, academic and professional sectors with publishers including Cambridge University Press, Elsevier and NewSouth Publishing. More recently, Debbie was Senior Manager, Content Acquisition and Business Development with Ingram Content Group. In […]
Meet Conference Guest Sandra Phillips
Dr Sandra Phillips will give the keynote address on Thursday’s Research Day, on ‘Indigenous and community writing, reading and publishing’. Sandra is Wakka Wakka and was raised on the Country of her family’s ancestors, she is also proudly Gooreng Gooreng. These First Nations are in the jurisdiction now known as Queensland. Sandra does research in […]
Meet Conference Guest Mike Shatzkin
Mike Shatzkin has had a 60-year (so far) career in the book publishing business, starting on the sales floor of Brentano’s 5th Avenue bookstore in 1962. Starting in the early 1990s, he was one of the industry’s thought leaders on ‘digital change’, including the purchasing of books online (then in its infancy) and in digital (ebook) versions […]
Meet Associate Producer Nathanael Wheatcroft-Brown
Hello! I’m very excited to be a part of this year’s team at the Small Press Network. Originally from the small coastal town of Whitby in the North East of England, I came to Australia in 2019 to study a Master’s of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing at The University of Melbourne. With an undergraduate […]
Meet Associate Producer Elizabeth Lamb
Elizabeth Lamb (She/Her) As a life-long bibliophile from the idyllic Blue Mountains, NSW, with an omnivorous reading appetite and passion for editing, I am excited to be joining the team at the Small Press Network for this year’s Independent Publishing Conference. After a winding trajectory of theatre degrees, appearing in plays, writing and editing scripts and […]
Meet Associate Producer Em Collings
Hello! I’m a second-year student in RMIT’s Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing. In high school I studied a range of IT and STEM subjects but have found myself drawn more and more to both the written and spoken word. I studied a Cert 3 of IDMT (Information Digital Media and Technology) as well […]
Meet Associate Producer Cai Bardsley
Hello, I’m Cai (they/them), a writer and editor studying at RMIT University. Lucky for me, I get to be part of the team delivering this year’s Independent Publishing Conference. I grew up on the Mid North Coast of NSW on the beautiful bush lands of the Gumbaynggir People. After school I traded the warmth, rivers […]
Meet the 2023 BOTY Judges
We are very pleased to introduce our judges for the 2023 Book of the Year Award. While our inboxes begin filling with all the wonderful titles that our SPN member publishers have released, we thought you may like to get to know our judging panel for the year. Bec Kavanagh Bec Kavanagh is a writer, […]
Meet the 2023 BOTY Judges #2
We are very pleased to introduce our judges for the 2023 Book of the Year Award. While our inboxes begin filling with all the wonderful titles that our SPN member publishers have released, we thought you may like to get to know our judging panel for the year. Bec Kavanagh Bec Kavanagh is a writer, […]
The Book of the Year Award 2022: Shortlist Announcement
Sponsored by BookPeople and Ingram. The Small Press Network is honoured to announce the shortlist for the 2022 Book of the Year Award (formerly the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award). The award was first presented under its new name in 2020, marking a new direction for the Small Press Network and its membership. […]
Meet Associate Producer Ky Nolan
G’day! I’m Ky—I go by they/them and I’m thrilled to be your Associate Producer (Writing Lead) for Small Press Network’s 2022 Independent Publishing Conference. Australian indie literature is my first love, so the opportunity to work with SPN is a dream come true. A Naarm (Melbourne) local, I grew up riding my urban steed (push […]
Meet Associate Producer Fiona Wallace
My name’s Fiona (she/her) and I’m one of the new Associate Producers for the 2022 Independent Publishing Conference.
Meet Associate Producer Carla Di Maggio
I’m Carla (she/they) and I am so excited to be working with SPN as an Associate Producer for the IPC 2022!
BOTY 2022: Meet the Judges
We’ve received a varied and vibrant array of entries to the 2022 Book of the Year Award, covering nearly every genre we can think of and adding up to a record 93 titles submitted! Needless to say, the judges for this year’s award will be busy reading over the coming months. While you wait for […]
Call for Papers: Publishing Futures
Book publishing is a forward-thinking cultural sector. There is no shortage of articles, Twitter posts, and think pieces discussing emerging publishing trends and speculating about the future of publishing. Predictions over the eventual dominance of eBooks seemed to put the future of the print book at stake. Beyond the ‘format wars’, digital technologies and platforms […]
The Book of the Year Award 2021: Shortlist Announcement
The shortlist for the Small Press Network 2021 Book of the Year Award is in! Formerly the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award, the BOTY award was first presented under its new name in 2020, marking a new direction for the Small Press Network and its membership. BOTY aims to recognise and award some […]
Meet Associate Producer Emma Kellaway
Hi all. As an Associate Producer for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference, I’d like to introduce myself. I typically respond to Emma or Em! I study Master of International Relations (IR) and Journalism at Monash University. You may be wondering how an IR student found herself here but the truth is I have a long-standing […]
Meet Associate Producer Cordelia Egerton-Warburton
Hello friends! My name is Cordelia, and I am SPN’s Operations Associate Producer for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s team and I can’t wait to jump in!
Meet Associate Producer Chloe Agius
Hiya! I’m Chloe (she/her), and I am so excited to be one of this year’s Associate Producers for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’ve moved to Melbourne from Tasmania—the land of savoury toast, scallop pies, and winters worse than Melbourne but at least we’re gratified with actual snow and the prettiest landscapes in the country […]
Meet Conference Co-ordinator Chloe Hogan-Weihmann
Hi, I’m Chloe! I’ll be the Conference Co-ordinator for 2021. If you speak to me in person, you may recognise the dulcet tones of a Canadian accent. It’s true, I come from way up north, where the lumberjacks leap from tree to tree as they float down the mighty maple syrup rivers of British Columbia. […]
Meet Associate Producer Holly Hendry-Saunders
Hello! I am Holly, one of the Associate Producers for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m from Adelaide and moved to Melbourne two months ago to pursue my passion for publishing. I drove over in my trusty hatchback containing all my possessions (mainly books), unsure of what I was getting myself into, knowing only a […]
McKay to present research day keynote
SPN is very happy to announce that award-winning author Laura Jean McKay will be the keynote speaker for the research day of the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. Her keynote on Thursday 25 November will address the research day theme of ‘Publishing and the Environment’. Laura Jean McKay is the author of The Animals in That Country (Scribe […]
BOTY 2021: meet the judges
Penni Russon is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of a number of books for children and teenagers, including Only Ever Always, The Endsister and the Undine trilogy. She’s a senior lecturer in writing at the University of Technology Sydney. Jess Gately is a freelance editor and writer, the director of business development for Underground […]
How to find an editor using the IPEd editors directory
The Editors Directory is a searchable list of freelance editors who are professional members of the Institute of Professional Editors. You can search for an editor who offers the services you need and has expertise in the subject(s) you are writing about. The search function also enables you to search for editors who can work […]
SPN Book of the Year award 2021
Entries are now open for the 2021 SPN Book of the Year Award (BOTY). Any book published by an SPN member (full or associate) during the 2020 calendar year is eligible. (If you’re not a member of SPN, click here to find out how to join.) The shortlist will be released in September, with the winner […]
The Book of the Year Award 2020: Winner Announcement
The Small Press Network is honoured to announce the winner of the 2020 Book of the Year Award is Forgotten Corners: Essays in Search of an Island’s Soul by Pete Hay, published by Walleah Press. The Book of Year Award aims to recognise some of the most ground-breaking books being produced by independent publishers today. […]
The Book of the Year Award 2020: Shortlist Announcement
The Small Press Network is honoured to announce the shortlist for the inaugural Book of the Year Award. The Book of Year Award marks a new direction for the Small Press Network and its membership. It aims to recognise and award some of the most significant and ground-breaking books being published by local independent publishers […]
On Book Design
Interviews by Katie Fridman, compiled and edited by Gladys Serugga — There are many elements that make up a great book, from the charismatic best friend of the main character, to the descriptive language that creates a setting vivid enough to paint real life on the canvas of our minds. But while the essence of […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Blaise van Hecke, Busybird Publishing
A picture tells a thousand words, but in fewer than that, learn how this photographer started a publishing business. Interview by Gladys Serugga, 2020 Associate Producer — When Blaise van Hecke went back to study in 2006, she thought it would help her to write a novel. Little did she know it would cause the […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Sarah Cannon, Monash University Publishing
While some children might dismiss their parents’ advice, Sarah Cannon from Monash University Publishing could not have agreed with hers more. ‘My grandparents were writers and my parents were writers, and my Dad (writer and historian Michael Cannon) said, “If you want to get into publishing, the best thing to do is get a job […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Rachel Bin Salleh, Magabala Books
Rachel Bin Salleh is a Nimunburr and Yawuru woman from Broome, Western Australia. Now a Publisher at Magabala Books, Rachel began her career journey as an editor at the age of 19. Rachel said her love for reading ‘placed her in good stead’ for the editing and publishing industry. I chatted with Rachel about all […]
MEET ASSOCIATE PRODUCER KATIE FRIDMAN
Hi, my name is Katie Fridman. I am the Associate Producer for design at the 2020 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m excited to be part of the IPC this year, in a role that combines two of my passions: books and graphic design. My contribution is to create the program and promotional materials for the conference. […]
The MUBA Interviews: Sue McPherson, Author of Brontide
What drew you to the story of Rob, Pen, Benny Boy and Jack? I wasn’t drawn, the boys called me in. They needed their stories told and thankfully I listened (I don’t always listen to my characters). I’m a bit of a sook, I don’t mind a bit of grit and I love a bloody […]
MUBA 19 Spotlight: ‘Songwoman’ by Ilka Tampke
Songwoman by Ilka Tampke is the next book to feature in our shortlist for the 2019 Most Underrated Book Award Songwoman is a bold historical novel set in Iron-Age Britain, and is a sequel to Tampke’s debut novel Skin. It revives the story of Ailia who finds her home ravaged by the Roman invasion and flees to the remote Welsh […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Vidisha Srinivasan
Hi! I am Vidisha, one of the Associate Producers at the Independent Publishing Conference 2019. I’m originally from Mumbai in India—the land of Bollywood, bullock carts and spicy food —and a series of overdue decisions saw me land in Melbourne on a cold July morning last year. I had bid adieu (temporarily) to my friends, […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Rachael Mason
Hey! I’m Rachael and I am one of the Associate Producers for the 2019 Independent Publishing Conference. As a prospective digital publishing MA student at Oxford Brookes University in the UK, this will be my first professional expedition into the world of publishing. I couldn’t be happier to be learning the ropes and connecting with […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Bridget Black
Hi there! My name is Bridget Black and I’m one of the Associate Producers for the 2019 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m currently completing a Master of Writing and Publishing at RMIT, having previously graduated with a Bachelor of Music at Monash University (on the odd occasion, you still can catch me playing the saxophone!). The […]
Meet the new MUBA judges
We’re very pleased to introduce you to the new judging panel for the Most Underrated Book Award (MUBA). Melissa Cranenburgh is a writer, broadcaster, editor and educator. She spent more than a decade in senior editing roles, including associate editor and acting editor of The Big Issue, and co-editor of the magazine’s annual fiction edition. She now […]
Entries now open for MUBA 2019!
EVERY YEAR, THE SMALL PRESS NETWORK RUNS THE MOST UNDERRATED BOOK AWARD. THIS PRIZE AIMS TO UNCOVER AND CELEBRATE THE HIDDEN GEMS OF AUSTRALIAN PUBLISHING. The Small Press Network is pleased to announce that entries are now open for the 2019 Most Underrated Book Award. Click here for more details (please note, only books published by members […]
MUBA18 Spotlight: ‘Living in Hope’ by Frank Byrne with Frances Coughlan and Gerard Waterford
Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Peoples, this content contains images and voices of deceased persons. Living in Hope, by the late Frank Byrne with Frances Coughlan and Gerard Waterford, is the next book in our MUBA18 shortlist spotlights. Living in Hope by Frank Byrne is ‘more than just a story of surviving’. A child of the […]
MUBA18 Spotlight: ‘Plane Tree Drive’ by Lynette Washington
Plane Tree Drive by Lynette Washington is the next book to feature in our 2018 Most Underrated Book Award shortlist spotlights. Lynette Washington’s Plane Tree Drive is a collection of short stories, each providing a glimpse into the lives of the residents of Plane Tree Drive. Themes of isolation and connection colour the interwoven stories of […]
MUBA18 spotlight: ‘Gwen’ by Goldie Goldbloom
The Small Press Network is pleased to name Gwen by Goldie Goldbloom as one of the shortlisted books for the 2018 Most Underrated Book Award. Gwen tells the story of Gwendolen Mary John, the lesser known sister of artist Augustus John. After an encounter with famed artist Auguste Rodin, Gwen makes a pilgrimage from London to […]
Most Underrated Book Award 2018: shortlist announcement
The Small Press Network is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2018 Most Underrated Book Award. The Most Underrated Book Award is sponsored by the Australian Booksellers Association and aims to uncover and celebrate the hidden gems of Australian publishing. The 2018 shortlisted titles are: Gwen by Goldie Goldbloom (Fremantle Press) Living in Hope […]
Volunteer at the 2018 Independent Publishing Conference
Would you like to get a foot in the door of the publishing industry? SPN wants sharp, energetic volunteers to help deliver the 2018 Independent Publishing Conference in November. As a conference volunteer, you will never be bored: we need help with everything from running errands to taking care of conference speakers and other VIPs. […]
2018 SPN Christmas catalogue out now!
The 2018 Small Press Network Christmas Catalogue is out now! SPN Christmas Catalogue 2018 features over 70 fresh titles from 30 SPN member publishers across all genres. Copies have been distributed to bookshops and libraries around the country, thanks to our partners the Australian Booksellers Association, Leading Edge Books and ALS Library Services. Ask your […]
2018 Independent Publishing Conference: program announced
The program for the seventh annual Independent Publishing Conference, to be held at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 November, is now live. As in previous years, the conference will feature a Research Day on Thursday 22 November, at which presenters will share their research in various aspects of publishing; […]
Introducing Associate Producer Meg Kerr
Hello! My name is Meg and I am the least important but best-looking Associate Producer working on this year’s Independent Publishing Conference. To give a small introduction, I am a current sufferer in the Masters of Publishing and Communications at Melbourne University. When I am not visibly decrying my life choices on campus, I am […]
Introducing Associate Producer Coral Huckstep
In February this year I traded in my life in Perth for a new one in Melbourne. The reason for this huge and somewhat terrifying move to the other side of the country? To study the Master of Publishing and Communications at the University of Melbourne. It’s been around six years since I was a […]
Six writers secure a place on the Hungerford Award shortlist in bumper year of great Western Australian writing
Yuot Alaak, Zoe Deleuil, Alan Fyfe, Holden Sheppard, Julie Sprigg and Trish Versteegen are in the running for $12,000 in prize money from the City of Fremantle and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. The six new Western Australian writers are shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award.
Introducing: Associate Producer Jessica Harvie
Hi there, my name is Jessica Harvie and I’m one of the Associate Producers for the Independent Publishing Conference for 2018. I’m really excited to return to the publishing arena with the conference. I worked in student media during my undergraduate degree, and since then I’ve worked in mental health, hospitality and communications, so I’m […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Ellen Stephens
In the lead up to the 2018 Independent Publishing Conference, I am excited to be assisting the network that advocates for diverse and independent publishing. The books published by members of the Small Press Network have fuelled my imagination and inspired me to pursue a career in publishing. Before coming to the conclusion that publishing […]
SPN staff changes
The Small Press Network (SPN) has announced the appointment of Tim Coronel as general manager. Coronel, who was previously communications manager for the network, takes over from Matthia Dempsey, who has held the role since 2016 and will continue to co-ordinate this year’s Independent Publishing Conference (to be held at The Wheeler Centre from 22–24 […]
MEMBER BENEFIT – SPN NetGalley Subscription Offer
Reach worldwide readers of influence at a significant discount SPN members can now access readers of influence via the NetGalley service at a significant discount. NetGalley offers publishers the opportunity to make available digital review copies of new and forthcoming titles for a range of readers – reviewers, journalists, bloggers, and others you invite to […]
ASA/SPN Model Trade Publishing Agreement
The Small Press Network is delighted to be able to offer our Full Members access to the ASA/SPN Model Trade Publishing Agreement. This model agreement, mutually endorsed by both the ASA and SPN, provides a working template that is fair to both authors and publishers, and provides a framework within which the publisher and […]
Opportunity: Associate Producer Internship Program 2018
After its success last year, we are again running our Associate Producer internship program to support the delivery of this November’s Independent Publishing Conference. Our Associate Producers work closely with SPN General Manager Matthia Dempsey to deliver the 2018 conference and MUBAs. There are three positions available; all are voluntary. The program is designed for people who would like […]
Independent Publishing Conference 2018: Call for papers
The Laws of Publishing Deadline: Friday 29 June 2018 The complex systems of rules, conventions and traditions that underpin publishing practice are inextricably linked to the production, reception and consumption of texts. They range from formally consecrated legislation and official industry and organisational codes of conduct, through to unofficial traditions ‘learned on the job’: passed on […]
Australian small presses dominate 2017 PM’s Literary Awards
The shortlists for the 2017 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards were announced late Friday afternoon 17 November 2017. Remarkably, nineteen of the 20 nominated books for adults were produced by Australia’s independent small press sector. Only one was published by a global conglomerate – The Easy Way Out by Steven Amsterdam, published by Hachette, the […]
Free childcare at the 2017 Independent Publishing Conference
As part of our ongoing efforts to make the Independent Publishing Conference accessible and welcoming to everyone, the Small Press Network is providing free childcare. If you would like to use this service, please let us know when you book your tickets. There is an option to do so when booking online, or you can […]
Announcement: Most Underrated Book Award Shortlist
Small Press Network’s MOST UNDERRATED BOOK AWARD 2017 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED! Sponsored by the Australian Booksellers Association The shortlist The four titles shortlisted for the 2017 Most Underrated Book Award are: The Island Will Sink (Briohny Doyle, Brow Books) The Invisible War (Ailsa Wild, Briony Barr, Gregory Crocetti, Ben Huchings, Jeremy Barr, Scale Free Network) Loopholes […]
IngramSpark announce special offers for SPN members
IngramSpark have announced a range of offers for SPN members. Offers cover both print and ebook services. Click the image above to read more on how IngramSpark can assist SPN members in reaching over 70,000 retailers and libraries and more than 70 major online retailers.
Internal Musings: The Experiences of Ford Street Interns
You always read about the authors and illustrators but what about the interns who volunteer their time and skills to the industry? The current interns at Ford Street Publishing have reflected on undertaking internships. They discuss their tasks, learning curves, team dynamics and the office atmosphere, including Benji the pup.
Emma:
You never really know what to expect when you start an internship. Are you going to be shoved to the side and not spoken to? Forgotten about?
Breaking: Extension for Industry Research Day Papers
Legacies of Publishing Extended deadline: 14 July 2017 All accepted presenters will be invited to submit papers for possible publication by Monash University Publishing in a book of essays resulting from the conference. Click here to download a PDF of the Call for Papers. See the original post here.
Opportunity: Associate Producer Internship Program
After its success last year, we are again running our Associate Producer internship program to support the delivery of this November’s Independent Publishing Conference. Our Associate Producers work closely with Conference Manager Sarah Jansen and SPN General Manager Matthia Dempsey to deliver the 2017 conference and MUBAs. There are three positions available; all are voluntary. The program is designed […]
Announcement: Industry Research Day Keynote Speaker
The Independent Publishing Conference team is thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the Industry Research Day. Associate professor Katherine Bode will explore the intersection of two forms of publishing: one endemic to the nineteenth century, the other to the twenty-first. She will take us through how Australian fiction publishing has from its origins been […]
Independent Publishing Conference 2017: Call for Papers
Legacies of Publishing Deadline: Thursday 29 June 2017 Extended: 14 July 2017 All accepted presenters will be invited to submit papers for possible publication by Monash University Publishing in a book of essays resulting from the conference. Click here to download a PDF of this Call for Papers. Every book leaves a legacy; every publisher inherits one. […]
Bloodlines by Nicole Sinclair
“This is a thoughtful, heartfelt work with a well-executed use of multiple narratives and varying perspectives. This enjoyable read marks the emergence of a sincere and refreshing new voice in the Australian literary world.” (Four Stars, Books + Publishing) Thirty-one-year-old Beth, who’s grown up in Western Australia’s wheatbelt, is running from her past when she […]
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2017 Margaret River Short Story Competition. Laura Elvery has taken out the 1st prize with her story, Joiner Bay. Laura is a writer from Brisbane. Her work has been published in The Big Issue Fiction Edition, Kill Your Darlings, Award-Winning Australian Writing and Griffith Review. In […]
Most Underrated Book Award 2016 shortlist announced!
The Small Press Network (SPN) is delighted to announce the four titles shortlisted for the fifth annual Most Underrated Book Award (MUBA), sponsored by Booktopia. The shortlisted titles are: A Man Made Entirely of Bats by Patrick Lenton (Spineless Wonders) Clancy of the Undertow by Christopher Currie (Text Publishing) Creating Cities by Marcus Westbury (Niche […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Katherine Hernandez
Katherine is one of SPN’s five Associate Producers working on the Independent Publishing Conference this year. She is managing The Rag and Scribble Salon at Embiggen Books, which takes place at the end of Student Day. Hi, my name is Katherine. I used to introduce myself as K, but shortly after I moved to Australia for the […]
Volunteer at our Conference
Would you like to get your foot in the door of the publishing industry? SPN wants sharp, energetic volunteers to help deliver the 2016 Independent Publishing Conference next month. As a Conference Volunteer, you will never be bored: we need help with everything from running errands to taking care of conference speakers and other VIPs. In return for working […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Helen MacLeod
Helen is one of SPN’s five Associate Producers working on the Independent Publishing Conference this year. She is managing the Trade Day among other responsibilities. Find out a little about her below and book your tickets now to see her handiwork and meet her in person. Hi, my name is Helen. My Twitter bio says that […]
Introducing: Associate Producer Tegan Lyon
Hi, the person you have called is not available. Please leave a short ten second message after the tone and your message will be sent as a text. Beep. Hi guys, I’m Tegan and I spend about a third of my week on the phone, listening to the above automatic message. As any creative writing […]
Introducing our Conference Associate Producers
This year for the first time SPN has Associate Producers on board for the Independent Publishing Conference. Over the next few weeks, they will be introducing themselves here. First up is Nicole McKenzie, who is working on several events within the Conference. Being a good person (and a good intern) Hi I’m Nicole! I have […]
Opportunity: associate producer internship program
This year SPN is running an Associate Producer internship program as part of the Independent Publishing Conference. The program is designed for people with enormous passion and drive who would like to gain practical experience in arts management, particularly those who want to complete a placement as part of an academic or vocational course. There […]
Independent Publishing Conference 2016: Call for papers
Publishing: A Solitary and Social Enterprise Extended deadline: 15 August 2016 All accepted presenters will be invited to submit content for possible publication by Monash University Publishing in a book of essays resulting from the conference. Reading is often a solitary act; publishing, on the other hand, is undeniably social. Publishing prompts social gatherings, from sedate […]
Exciting new mentorship opportunity
The Small Press Network (SPN) is excited to offer a new year-long mentorship opportunity to Victorian members. The mentorship program will match six Victoria-based SPN members with six established publishing professionals for a year-long mentoring relationship that will culminate in the launch of a publication (electronic or print) at the Melbourne Writers Festival. […]
Job opportunity at SPN
The Small Press Network (SPN) seeks to appoint an experienced event organiser, ideally with knowledge of the publishing industry, to prepare the 2016 Independent Publishing Conference, to be held 9 to 12 November at the Wheeler Centre. The role will be one day a week commencing early June and will report to SPN’s general […]
Small publishers produce twice as much ‘Australian literature’ as the major publishers
A new paper, ‘Small Publishers and the Emerging Network of Australian Literary Prosumption’, in the Australian Humanities Review, by former Small Press Network president Emmett Stinson, has found that ‘large publishers are no longer the primary mediators of Australian literature’. Stinson’s survey of 2012 titles demonstrates that small publishers UQP, Puncher & Wattman, Giramondo, UWA […]
The Orchid Nursery shortlisted for Norma K Hemming award
Lacuna Publishing congratulates Louise Katz on “The Orchid Nursery” being shortlisted for the 2016 Norma K Hemming award.
Author and publisher, almost strangers, embark on a month-long odyssey to the exotic South Atlantic island of Lanzarote
After a twenty-six year absence, author Isobel Blackthorn returns to the
volcanic desert island of Lanzarote to promote her novel, The Drago
Tree, accompanied by her publisher, Michelle Lovi at Odyssey Books.
The island used to be Isobel’s home, and after two decades working and
rearing her children, she’s created her own way of going back. Although
she admits the adventure wouldn’t be happening without her publisher.
Disruption and Innovation in the Australian Book Industry
An Australian-first study by Macquarie University of the country’s book publishing industry reveals considerable innovation in response to the digital disruption that has resulted in a significant drop in onshore book sales. The initial research phase of the study involved participation from SPN members Pantera Press, Spinifex Press, Pitt Street Poetry, Overland, Re.Press, Kids’ Own […]
$12,000 writing prize up for grabs
Submissions for the 2016 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award are open. Western Australia’s longest running and most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript offers a cash prize of $12,000 from the City of Fremantle and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.
Meet the Publisher: Duncan Felton, Grapple Publishing
When and how were you established? After many years of semi-organised pondering and planning, Grapple Publishing started late in 2013, making itself known to the world with a call-out for submissions to The Grapple Annual No. 1. At that point it was just me sitting at my computer with some ideas, some savings and a […]
Marketing Whatever You Have to Market: Promotion, Part 3 | Linda Carlson
In partnership with the US Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), SPN is proud to present a series of articles on the ‘four Ps’ of marketing and how you can apply them as independent book publishers. The final three articles in the series all focus on the third ‘p’, ‘promotion’. The references are American, but the ideas are global. Enjoy! This […]
Marketing Whatever You Have to Market: Promotion, Part 2 | Linda Carlson
In partnership with the US Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), SPN is proud to present a series of articles on the ‘four Ps’ of marketing and how you can apply them as independent book publishers. The final three articles in the series all focus on the third ‘p’, ‘promotion’. The references are American, but the ideas are global. Enjoy! This […]
Marketing Whatever You Have to Market: Promotion, Part 1 | Linda Carlson
In partnership with the US Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), SPN is proud to present a series of articles on the ‘four Ps’ of marketing and how you can apply them as independent book publishers. The final three articles in the series all focus on the third ‘p’, ‘promotion’. The references are American, but the ideas are global. Enjoy! Product, […]
Marketing Whatever You Have to Market: Place | Linda Carlson
In partnership with the US Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), SPN is proud to present a series of articles on the ‘four Ps’ of marketing and how you can apply them as independent book publishers. This, the third article in the series, is about ‘place’. The references are American, but the ideas are global. Enjoy! This is the third in […]
Marketing Whatever You Have to Market: Price | Linda Carlson
In partnership with the US Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), SPN is proud to present a series of articles on the ‘four Ps’ of marketing and how you can apply them as independent book publishers. This, the second article in the series, is about ‘price’. The references are American, but the ideas are global. Enjoy! No matter what you’re marketing—print […]
A New Appointment at Margaret River Press
We are delighted to announce that Laurie Steed has been employed as Project Manager at Margaret River Press…
MEET THE PUBLISHER – Lacuna Publishing
Linda Nix, Publisher and Editor, Lacuna When and how were you established? I have a long-standing fascination with how words and ideas are disseminated and become part of society’s cultural fabric. After years working in the industry, I realised my dream was to run a small press. In 2010 I set up a freelance editing, […]
Fremantle Press launches new website
Fremantle Press launched a new e-commerce website in August. The website has been revamped to include specific sections for teachers and book clubs, while making it easier for customers to engage with authors.
The Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript
UWA Publishing, in partnership with Copyright Agency Limited and 720 ABC Perth, has established a new award for an unpublished manuscript. The award has been established as a response to the changes to the WA Premier’s Book Awards announced earlier this year. Along with the majority of the Western Australian arts community, UWA Publishing expressed […]
NEW LOOK SPN WEBSITE
Welcome to our new website! We are super excited to launch the brand shiny new SPN website, where you can log in as a member, apply for a new membership or instantly sign up as an Associate Member. There are loads of member benefits outlined here for you to enjoy (with slightly different accessibility depending on […]
Meet the Publisher – coeur de lion
When and how were you established? As with all good ideas, coeur de lion was born in a pub. The speculative fiction scene goes through boom and bust cycles and at the time there weren’t a lot of local independent presses catering to a sci-fi, horror, fantasy audience. Myself and fellow author Andrew Macrae were […]
Sinking independents into libraries | Pepi Ronalds
There’s a quote on the Internet that is attributed to Virginia Woolf. ‘I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure,’ it reads. In order to find its source I paste the full quote into a search box, held together by inverted commas. ‘Did you mean: “I ransack public libraries, and find them […]
Robert Galbraith Didn’t Sell. Why is Anyone Surprised? | Keiran Rogers
This article was originally published on 25 July 2013 on the ‘Books + Publishing’ website. Join up for all the news and publishing discussions you need. The Cuckoo’s Calling achieved mediocre sales before it was revealed bestselling author JK Rowling was the actual author ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime […]
Meet the publisher: STEPHEN MINCHIN from Steam Press (NZ)
(Editor note: we LOVE this photo!) Steam Press is … a publisher of New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, and horror that is determined to give local authors a viable market for their work, and make that work available to the world. Stephen Minchin is… Drinking far too much coffee. When was the last time you […]